Stohlova: Taraba Acting against Slovakia's Interests in Gabcikovo Case (2)

Bratislava, 16 July (TASR) – Environment Minister Tomas Taraba (SNS nominee) is misleading the public and acting against Slovakia's interests in the ongoing dispute with Hungary over the Gabcikovo hydropower plant, Tamara Stohlova (PS), vice-chair of the House agriculture and environment committee, claimed on Wednesday. Stohlova stated that there is no reason to voluntarily hand over millions of euros worth of energy at production price to Hungary. The opposition had planned to discuss both the Gabcikovo dispute and the planned battery plant in Surany at Wednesday's committee session, but the committee wasn't quorate. Opposition MPs criticised Taraba for not attending and for failing to answer questions. Stohlova emphasised that there is no need to negotiate energy sharing with Hungary, noting that the related court case is "now behind us" and that the ruling doesn't oblige Slovakia to address electricity. "This topic has appeared out of nowhere, and Minister Taraba started negotiations and discussions," she said at a press conference. "It's clear that Minister Taraba isn't acting in Slovakia's interests. There is no reason to voluntarily give millions of euros in energy at production price to Hungary under any friendly terms," she added. According to Stohlova, Taraba defends talks on sharing energy by citing the ongoing dispute. "The ruling doesn't state that, these are mere excuses. We've seen documents and heard from the involved parties - even the Hungarian side has confirmed this. The ruling contains neither any obligation nor deadline for an agreement with Hungary," she stated. She criticised Taraba for refusing to explain his motivations, suggesting either incompetence or deliberate actions benefiting Hungary. The opposition also wanted to question Taraba about the Surany battery plant. Committee member Rastislav Kratky ('Slovakia'-For the People-KU alliance) criticised Taraba for allowing the investor to cite an environmental impact assessment (EIA) for the Surany industrial park while already seeking a building permit for the factory itself. "What is striking is that the minister initially said that the battery plant would have its own EIA, separate from the industrial park," said Kratky. Stohlova warned that the opposition's concerns about bypassing a proper EIA process remain valid. "First, there was an attempt to artificially split the project into the industrial park and battery plant construction. Now the investor is applying for a building permit while the comprehensive EIA for the battery plant hasn't been completed," she explained. The opposition called the government’s communications poor and labelled the process non-transparent. On Wednesday, Taraba stated that Slovakia will not give Hungary 50 percent of its electricity for free. Slovakia, he said, will not back down from its dominant position in the Gabcikovo dispute. The International Court of Justice in The Hague issued a ruling in 1997 in the dispute between Hungary and Slovakia, ordering both sides to reassess the environmental impacts of running the Gabcikovo power plant. mf/df